The 10 Best Brand Channels on YouTube Go Pro No. 1, followed by Six Pack ShortcutsBy Garett Sloane

April 2, 2014, 10:10 AM EDT

YouTube has anointed GoPro the No. 1 brand on the site with its inaugural monthly leaderboard. Google quietly released the top 10 YouTube brands this week, looking at the highest performing channels in March.

“As brands continue to blur the line between advertiser and creator, we want to recognize those brands that regularly publish content—paid or otherwise—to build an engaged fan base,” Google said in a blog post this week.

YouTube looked at which channels had the most watch time, repeat viewers, likes and shares, among other factors to gauge which brands had the most active fan bases.

The No. 2 brand, Six Pack Shortcuts, represents a triumph of sorts for YouTube fitness guru Mike Chang, who once said he almost had his account suspended forever. His extreme abs tips may have resulted in the block on his account, which was eventually reversed. Google has not commented, but Six Pack Shortcuts was reinstated and is clearly now a shining example in digital content marketing.

In just a couple short years, Web video has matured from a burgeoning category to a dynamic new business distinct from TV. As a result, the biggest producers, executives and talent in the business are getting onboard, and the Web is nurturing its own breed of stars and storytelling genres. VideoWatch is dedicated to chronicling the players and developments in this exciting new industry.

YouTube has anointed GoPro the No. 1 brand on the site with its inaugural monthly leaderboard. Google quietly released the top 10 YouTube brands this week, looking at the highest performing channels in March.

“As brands continue to blur the line between advertiser and creator, we want to recognize those brands that regularly publish content—paid or otherwise—to build an engaged fan base,” Google said in a blog post this week.

YouTube looked at which channels had the most watch time, repeat viewers, likes and shares, among other factors to gauge which brands had the most active fan bases.

The No. 2 brand, Six Pack Shortcuts, represents a triumph of sorts for YouTube fitness guru Mike Chang, who once said he almost had his account suspended forever. His extreme abs tips may have resulted in the block on his account, which was eventually reversed. Google has not commented, but Six Pack Shortcuts was reinstated and is clearly now a shining example in digital content marketing.